CandidaSpecies Isolated from Urban Bats of Londrina‐Paraná, Brazil and their Potential Virulence

Abstract

The aim of this study was to isolate yeasts from the faeces of urban bats inhabiting the city of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil and to determine their potential virulence attributes. Seven (12.3%) of 57 bats screened in this study showed yeasts in their faeces. Five species of the genus Candida were isolated: C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, and C. pelliculosa. No phospholipase activity was detected in the egg yolk plate assay; however, all isolates demonstrated protease secretion in skim milk agar. Yeasts isolated from bats produced biofilm on the surface of polystyrene plates and all were classified as intermediate biofilm producers. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for fluconazole in the yeasts varied according to the species. Only one isolate (M34 - C. lusitaniae) was considered susceptible dose-dependent to fluconazole. The yeasts were injected intravenously into Swiss mice, and at 15 days post-infection, the animals were killed and portions of their kidneys cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium. All tissues analysed showed positive cultures of Candida spp. This is the first study evaluating the presence of fungi in the faeces of bats in an urban region, where the yeast species found were shown to be potentially pathogenic. As bats are commonly found in cities, these findings indicate the need for continuous surveillance concerning environmental contamination by their excreta.

Yeasts from the microbiota of bats: a focus on the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of cryptic species of Candida

“…One Candida guilliermondii (Candida fermentati) was resistant to fluconazole, and one Candida albicans was resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole (Table 1), yielding a low resistance rate (2/ 32). Fluconazole resistance has been frequently described in Candida from several animal species (Brilhante et al, 2013), but not in strains from bats (Botelho et al, 2012). The low resistance rate observed in this study may be associated with the fact that only freeranging animals were analysed, since close contact with humans seems to favour the development of antifungal resistance among Candida spp.…”

Evaluation of Association between Vaginal Infections and High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Types in Female Sex Workers in Spain

“…infection is the most prevalent mycosis in the majority of cases of asymptomatic colonization and vulvovaginal candidiasis. However, certain species of Candida are more pathogenic than the other species and induce hyphal and pseudohyphal formation and enhance proteolytic activity and antigen modulation [27]. These features enable Candida spp.…”

Identification of fungi in shotgun metagenomics datasets

“…However, several recent studies suggest that animals can carry potentially zoonotic fungi. For example, Candida species were discovered on ticks from a seabird colony in Ireland, in pigeon feces from Gran Canaria, and in bat droppings [ 10 – 12 ]. Animals could represent significant fungal reservoirs for human fungal infection.…”